PEACE ARCH (NEWS1130) – The legalization of the recreational use of marijuana in Washington State will likely mean you will see increased checks at the border.

We spoke with a security expert about how officers may react to the new law south of the line. Andre Gerolymatos with Simon Fraser University says this puts our border guards in something of an interesting position.

“BC, as everyone knows, grows a lot of marijuana and a lot of it goes south of the border. So, when it crosses the border it’s legal. But before it does, it’s illegal and if it’s coming back, it’s illegal,” he explains.

He predicts more people will try to bring back pot and CBSA officers will be ready for them. “They’re going to be looking for it, certainly, because they know people can buy it and bring it back, right? So they’ll be certainly notified to keep an out for people bringing back marijuana.”

“I think initially, yes… they’ll want to crack down and warn people not to try and bring back marijuana and eventually it will subside,” adds Gerolymatos.

He also predicts the pot trade in this province will intensify, with more BC bud heading down south. “I think it will increase… because it’s going to be legal south of the border; the temptation will be to grow more of it here and bring it over there.”

Gerolymatos notes if you want Canadian pot laws changed, you need to write to your MP.